Method for generating optical anisotropy in scintillators using pulsed lasers
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorKent Charles Burr
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing an imaging component is provided comprising placing a focusing device in between a laser generator and a scintillator element; generating a laser using the laser generator; focusing the laser using the focusing device such that a focal spot of the laser is coincident with a portion of the isotropic portion; using the laser to alter the optical properties at the focal spot such that anisotropy is generated in the isotropic portion; and moving the focal spot relative to the scintillator element such that a three-dimensional pattern with altered optical properties is generated. The three-dimensional pattern controls the spread of photons within the scintillator element.
Claims6
An anisotropic scintillator for use in an imaging system comprising:
- a scintillator element comprised of an isotropic scintillator material having a first optical property;
- a three-dimensional pattern formed in said scintillator element utilizing a pulse laser, said pulse laser altering said first optical property at a plurality of discrete locations in said scintillator element such that said three-dimensional pattern is comprised of anisotropic portions and such that said anisotropic portions form localized channel regions in said scintillator element;
- wherein said three-dimensional pattern is configured to control the spread of photons to achieve desired signal sharing among the plurality of regions having borders defined by the plurality of discrete locations;
- and
- further wherein said anisotropic portions are comprised of at least one optical property selected from a plurality of optical properties to preserve spatial information allowing reliable centroid determination within the anisotropic scintillator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.